Idi Amin family too late to redeem father’s image

Mark Mzungu

The recent meeting between Madaraka Nyerere and Jaffar Amin, the sons of former Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere and former Ugandan President Idi Amin, has aroused comment in the Ugandan press, more among journalists than the public.

The event in Butiama, Nyerere’s traditional home in western Tanzania, was organised by the BBC Swahili Service to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Tanzania-Uganda war, which ended in the ousting of Amin.

Whether it’s a political stunt or genuine reconciliation, only the main actors can tell. Does it matter anyway?

It was a meaningful gesture, a sign of the better times the countries are going through; and a reminder that each generation has its own chance to build the world it wants to live in.

But a reminder, too, that each generation cannot shake off the past. The name Nyerere evokes good memories, of a man whose economic policies failed, but who led a simple life, educated and united his people and made them proud to be Tanzanians. The name Amin still divides people within Uganda, and outside it arouses such words as "tyrant", "monster" and "likeable buffoon", rightly or wrongly.

Background influence

Each man is an island, an individual, personally accountable for his actions and decisions, who will be alone when he dies, and faces God. But his family, social, religious, cultural and economic background, also largely influences him. So we can understand the oft-quoted words of Sacred Scripture, that "the sins of the fathers will be visited on the sons."

If a father is an honest, hard-working man fond of his family, sacrificing himself for their education and a bright future, chances are the sons will turn out well, too.

But if daddy drinks all the income, beats his wife, carries on with other women and doesn’t let the children speak the few times he is at home, it is not impossible, but it is hard, for a son to turn out well. Why? Because dad didn’t give him the chance or respond to his needs. The result? A son who is ashamed of his dad, and a dad who is disappointed with his son. So, yes, the sins of the previous generation are visited on the children.

When mummy spends time with the girls, gradually training them to be good mothers and wives, and hears their confidences, all will turn out well.

But if she is hardly at home, because of full-time work, and when she is home has to spin around like a top to cope with everything; or, worse, is a single-mother who, with little sense of responsibility, brings home a series of men, what message is she putting across, and what kind of mothers and wives can she expect to prepare for the next generation?

Bringing up of children can’t be left to teachers, however dedicated and hard working they are, however well they get on with the pupils and however well the school is run. Nowadays school children are given little moral or religious education.

Social Education and Ethics, in the hands of a good teacher, used to do some good, but now it is no more. Religious Education has become a subject for passing the exam, when taught at all.

Clearly, moral and religious education has to be given greater prominence in school curriculum. If the only way to get students to study is to make the subject examinable, well and good; but this is not the best way, although in the process we shall be teaching our children life-lasting values, hopefully.

Role of education

Better still, the subject should be left to teachers, who walk the talk, who are enthusiastic and successful communicators, and whose ideas and teachings will make the men and women of tomorrow good people and loyal citizens, whether the subject is examinable or not.

I have often been surprised at the number of young men, especially, who have only a vague notion of what it means to be a parent, and are so keen to learn a few basic ideas, such as pocket money, order and jobs at home, learning how to punish without losing respect or friendship and the use of TV and video-games.

One should not be so surprised at this if children spend much of their school lives in boarding institutions. They don’t see enough of their parents being parents, so they can’t learn how to be parents when their turn comes.

Jaffar and the Amin family are trying to rehabilitate their dad’s image. They are starting a foundation to promote social justice and overcome economic and racial divisions.

Perhaps Amin gave his children some values and was better as a dad than as the ruler of his country.